Half-Elf, 2nd Variant (4e Race)

Half-Elf

Racial Traits

Average Height: 5' 5" - 6' 2"

Average Weight: 130–190 lb.

Ability Scores: +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom or +2 Charisma or +2 Strength, +2 Wisdom or +2 Dexterity

Size: Medium

Speed: 6 squares

Vision: Low-Light

Languages: Common, Elven

Bonus Feat: You gain a bonus feat at 1st level.

Bonus Skill: You gain training in one additional skill selected from the list in Chapter 5.

Dilettante: At 1st level, you choose an at-will power from a class different from yours. You can use that power as an encounter power.

Dual Heritage: You can take feats that have either elf or human as a prerequisite (as well as those specifically for half-elves), as long as you meet any other requirements.

Descended from elves and humans, half-elves are a vital race in which the best features of elves and humans often appear.

Play a half-elf if you want...

✦ to be an outgoing, enthusiastic leader.
✦ to be a charismatic hero equally at home in two different cultures.
✦ to be a member of a race that favors rogue, ranger, sorcerer, warlock, avenger and paladin classes.

Physical Qualities

Half-elves tend to be sturdier of build than elves but more slender than most humans. Half-elves have the same range of complexions as humans and elves, and like elves, half-elves often have eye or hair colors not normally found among humans. Male half-elves can grow facial hair, unlike male elves, and often sport thin mustaches, goatees, or short beards. Half-elves’ ears are about the size of human ears, but they are tapered, like the ears of their elven ancestors. Half-elves usually adopt the dress and hairstyles of the society they spend the most time with; for example, a half-elf raised among a barbaric human tribe dresses in the furs and skins favored by the tribe and adopts the tribe’s style of braids and face paint. However, it would not be unusual for half-elves raised among humans to seek out articles of elven clothing or jewelry so that they can proudly display signs of their dual heritage. Half-elves have life spans comparable to humans, but like elves they remain vigorous well into old age, showing little signs of aging until a few years before their death. Some half-elves have been known to live longer, even as long as elves, however this is quite rare. Half-elves can carry a broad range of physical characteristics, with some being strong and fast, and others being wise and charismatic. Half-elves thus can benefit from an array of abilities, such as +2 to Dexterity, and +2 to Wisdom or Charisma, or can benefit from +2 to Strength, and +2 to Wisdom or Dexterity.

Attitudes and Beliefs

Half-elves are more than just a combination of two races—the combination of human and elf blood produces a unique race with qualities all its own. They share some of the natural grace, athleticism, and keen perceptiveness of elves, along with the passion and drive of humans. But in their own right, they are charismatic, confident, and open-minded and are natural diplomats, negotiators, and leaders. Half-elves like to be around people, the more diverse the better. They gravitate toward population centers, especially larger settlements where members of many races mingle freely. Half-elves cultivate large networks of acquaintances, as much out of genuine friendliness as for practical purposes. They like to establish relationships with humans, elves, and members of other races so they can learn about them, the way they live, and how they make their way in the world. Half-elves rarely settle down for any length of time. Their wanderlust makes them natural adventurers, and they quickly make themselves at home wherever they end up. When their paths take them back to a place they have visited before, they track down old friends and renew old contacts. Ultimately, half-elves are survivors, able to adapt to almost any situation. They are generally well liked and admired by everyone, not just elves and humans. They are empathetic, better at putting themselves in others’ shoes than most. Half-elves naturally inspire loyalty in others, and they return that feeling with deep friendship and a keen sense of responsibility for those who place themselves in their care. Half-elf warlords and generals do not order their followers into danger that they would not face themselves, and they usually lead from the front, trusting their allies to follow. Half-elves have no culture of their own and are not a numerous people. They usually bear human or elf names, sometimes using one name among elves and a different one among humans. Some are anxious about their place in the world, feeling no kinship with any race, except other half-elves, but most call themselves citizens of the world and kin to all.

Half-elf Communities

Half-elf communities that exist by themselves are rare, due to their existence being predicated on interbreeding between elves and humans. While humans and elves generally get along, some isolated enclaves exist of largely a single race of humans and elves, making them rare in these communities. Generally few communities made solely of half-elves exist, although a handful do, given that half-elves when breeding witch each other produce half-elf offspring, creating their own distinct lineage. Unlike many other half-race breeds, half-elves are generally accepted in all communities, as commonly as elves and humans, and thus tend to be prolific in virtually all areas of the world. While elves and orcs are notorious for their feuds, half-elves are often considered to be elves, and thus most possess the same form of hatred for them as they do for everyone else, even if embedded within humans. Half-elves are more commonly found within human territories, as they tend to be more diverse and open to outsiders, where as elf enclaves tend to be more isolated and weary of outsiders. Half-elves are rarely shunned, but in some incredibly hostile elf communities may be seen as outsiders even if raised in these areas for their entire lives. Half-elves tend to be accepting of outsiders, particularly half-orcs, which many other races may shun. While half-elves are accepting and naturally diplomatic, some variants of half-elves are oriented more towards areas of physical strength or agility, representing a distinct lineage of half-elves. Half-elves like all creatures of elven roots often have an ancestry towards specific group of elves, such as wood elves, blood elves, eladrin, and so on.

Half-elf Feats

Heroic Tier Racial Feats

Name	Description
Elven Marksmanship	You gain proficiency with all bows and crossbows, and a +1/2/3 scaling feat bonus to damage rolls when using them.

Heroic Tier Racial Feats

Name	Description
Beauty of the Elves	You are wondrous and fair to look upon.
Elven Accuracy	You may replace a use of one of your racial encounter powers with the 'Elven Accuracy' power. In addition, you may take the highest of either result with this power.
Elven Marksmanship	You gain proficiency with all bows and crossbows, and a +1/2/3 scaling feat bonus to damage rolls when using them.
Thinblade Accuracy	You gain proficiency with the Elvin Thinblade and a bonus to damage when you use your "Elven accuracy" power.

Heroic Tier Racial Feats

Name	Description
Light's Perseverance	You gain proficiency with all heavy and lights blades and a scaling +1/2/3 feat bonus to damage when using them.

Half-elf Utility Powers

When your Half-elf character gains a class utility power after 1st level, you can forgo taking a power granted to you by your class. Instead you gain a half-elf utility power of the same level or lower.

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